Posted to an earlier thread:
i.e. "A more and more common request"
https://surveyorconnect.com/index.php?mode=thread&id=294570#p295057
"However, it will not satisfy the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission requirements I cited in another post to this thread. Those require "9.1.7 The A/E shall provide Electronic Files (in native format) to the Contractor, Subcontractors, and Separate Consultants for their use in connection with the Project." I believe "native format" means CAD, word processing and spreadsheet files".
Generally if requested to provide a .dwg file the asker gets the linework of the plotted drawing, not all the points that went into creating that drawing. In general to protect my butt I get ties into property monuments even if not contracted to do so. I may go well offsite if required and generally that includes deed or filed map linework for adjacent parcels. The client does not get that extra fieldwork without a contracted agreement to do so. And it is unethical to provide such free work without compensation.
Should a dispute arise it may then be necessary to lay all the cards on the table. I would request to the judge that the information is provided to the court and by contract is not available for the clients use without additional compensation. It is up to the judge to decide. If the client goes ahead and uses such information to his benefit contrary to a judicial ruling, I have other options should I desire to seek them.
Paul in PA
Electronic files in "native format" to me would mean those files produced by the respective software. NOT a pdf as nothing but format is produced there. The native format files would be worthless to most contractors and subcontractors.
Would providing a pdf be a violation of those requirements? Somebody on the board must have a lot of technology stock, everybody needs to buy every piece of software that anyone might create a document from.
To me, "in native format" applies to the drawing only and means they do not want a drawing that you created in Intergraph as a DGN and then converted to an AutoCad DWG for their use. Nor do they want a document that you created in some other program and then saved as a Word DOCX file.
"Native format" means the original file as created and not converted to another file type IMHO.
For boundary surveys, all they need is an electronic copy of the plat in the original format and a copy of the legal description as originally created.
The only time the end users really need the point file is on topos so they can accurately rebuild the surface in their format.
Generally Topos Have A Different Contractual Agreement
I have been involved with many topos. Client might require a 20'x20' grid and breaklines.
Sometimes in such cases they do not even care about point numbers; point elements, descriptions and elevations being sufficient, with at least the point nodes on the "Z" elevation. Typically however all my point elements are 3D.
Generally I provide 3D points, break lines and contours and not a triangulated mesh. If the client wants to adjust a mesh it is best for both of us that he use the mesh created in with his own mesh adjustment software.
One of the nicest mesh adjustment programs was a $100 third party contour program I purchased to work in AutoCAD 10. I cannot recall the name and would have to dig out the box and disks. On my first AutoCAD 10 major subdivisions the field crew was slack in getting sufficient offsite field points. At that time I just added 3D nodes where necessary. Invisible to everyone else's eyes. They could not figure out how I recontoured so quickly. Adjusting polylines was a major grunt job.
Paul in PA
Generally Topos Have A Different Contractual Agreement
For topo/base mapping, I like to give CAD file which includes the points, 3D polylines and 3D faces (tmesh) + surface file in landXML format.
They don't have to redo the work, just import in software of their choice.
I agree that the client does not need all the field work information. I am making reference to a specific state of Ohio requirement for A/E (surveying) contracts with state agencies. These agencies are beginning to require CAD files and Ohio law requires that these files "work products" as delivered include a digital signature. I am saying that surveyors need to use a digital signature/security process that makes alteration of the file difficult. The Autodesk page "About Digital Signatures" explains the capabilities in the current version.
